The City of Cape Town’s Transport Directorate will commence with the rehabilitation of Jakes Gerwel Drive between Blue Gum Street and Viking Road in the second week of March 2021. The work is scheduled to take approximately 15 months to complete, pending unforeseen delays and inclement weather.
‘Jakes Gerwel Drive is a popular road and a key transport link. The rehabilitation work is intended to improve the condition and lifespan of this stretch of the road. Once done, it will improve the travel experience for all road users, especially those from surrounding suburbs including Langa, Bonteheuwel and Epping, as well as the many motorists from across the city who depend on this road daily,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Alderman Felicity Purchase.
The project includes minor improvements to the sidewalks and repairs to guardrails which benefit pedestrians along this stretch of road.
‘Work on the road will be implemented only in the night time between 20:00 and 05:00 in the morning. It will be done in a phased manner to keep traffic delays and congestion to a minimum. Our contractors will also use heavy machinery which will be noisy at times. Unfortunately, roadworks always cause some inconvenience, but maintenance projects are critical to help prolong the lifespan and safety of our road network. Thus, we appeal to our residents and motorists to exercise extra caution around the construction site and to comply with the displayed signage. We also urge them to be please be patient during the construction period as they stand to enjoy the new experience for years to come,’ said Alderman Purchase.
Road users can assist by:
- Lowering travelling speeds
- Paying attention and adhering to road signs
- Being vigilant in and around the roadworks area
- Looking out for uneven road surfaces
- Being mindful of construction workers
- Factoring in extra travel time
All lanes will be affected, but only one lane in each direction at a time. Work areas will be demarcated to regulate traffic flow, and to assist pedestrians. Residents are urged to park their vehicles in demarcated areas in order not to obstruct the maintenance work.
‘This project, like many of our projects, comes with employment opportunities for local residents. However, in order for residents to be considered for these, they have to be registered on the jobseekers’ database at their local subcouncil office. I urge all residents who are interested in temporary employment opportunities to ensure that they are registered and that their information is up to date,’ said Alderman Purchase.